Actraiser is a delightful game and it doesn't fail to impress. It is reminiscent of the good old days of addictive, fun and simple gameplay. It cleverly welds together two different genres and, despite being simplified compared to other bigger games, still brings the right amount of ingredients to take the style to a new ground.

The old saying goes 'gobsmacking audiovisuals do not a good game make', but Actraiser mixes absolutely stunning graphics and sound with a game so addictive, you'll want to play it again and again. A special mention must go to the stunning movie-score-like incidental tracks which really do get the old adrenalin pumping! As Rich has said, the similarities of this to Populous and Sim City are somewhat obvious, but that's no bad thing by any means - the addition of some absolutely awesome arcade sequences only go to enhance the game further. Be warned, however - this sucker is tough, and will take a heck of a lot of practice to complete, but even so, Actralser is a brilliant title that Super Famicom owners will go absolutely nuts over.

The Virtual Console was created for games like ActRaiser; Underappreciated gems that vanished off store shelves before most gamers had a chance to experience their awesomeness. Whether you're looking for a side-scrolling platformer or a sim for the Virtual Console, go get yourself 800 Wii Points and download this game.

At first glance, this looked like a Populous rip-off with its "control your minions" idea. Once I studied the game in more depth, its great playability came apparent. The arcade sections are fantastic, and feature the best music ever heard on a console or computer and offer a challenge that's tough without being dispiriting. The graphics are also outstanding, especially in the final showdown. The strategic element works well, although it may put off some people - they'd be silly to miss a game of this quality. If you've a Super Famicom, this MUST be your next purchase!

Even today this still plays like a dream. It's amazing how well the two portions of the game gel together and while the visuals have lost some of their impact, Actraiser remains easy on the eye. A special mention must go to the music - composed by Yuzo Koshiro (of Streets of Rage fame), it really is a generation apart from some of the Megadrive music around at the time.

This game is the perfect melding of Populous and Castlevania, with strategy segments that lead into incredibly detailed action sequences. The building sections are straight-forward enough and while the battle scenes lack power-ups, the detail in animation and sound is amazing.

In summation, there are plenty of great Virtual Console titles to download, be they RPG or not. ActRaiser sits on the fence in terms of genre, but there's no question in my mind about the game's quality. You're almost guaranteed to enjoy playing this game, regardless of past experience. It's short, and it's not too complex, but it's appeared on many a "Top 10 SNES games" list. That ought to tell you something.

Overall, and because it's almost 2 a.m., this game is fucking awesome to those of us old enough to vote, even though the kids won't understand why its so great. Oh, umm...and, it's a sterling example of that old philosophy that "ANY idea can work if" blah blah, etc.

ActRaiser combines side-scrolling action with world-building strategy set within a fantasy realm. As a deity called The Master, your task is to overthrow evil forces by reclaiming your land and amassing a population of followers. Action sequences allow you to possess a warrior statue, using its sword and magical attacks to destroy evil in six lands, while the simulation mode consists of clearing out deserts or swamps, constructing cities, and keeping their populations safe. While neither mode is the height of its respective genre, the unique combination and a beautifully orchestrated soundtrack result in an engrossing and enjoyable adventure.

ActRaiser was one of the first games to hit store shelves following the launch of the SNES in North America and also one of the first games to really show off what the system could do. The juxtaposition of side-scrolling action levels and top-down city building portions was innovative at the time. The graphics demonstrated the system's ability to push rich 16-bit colors, multilayered backgrounds, and large bosses, while Yuzo Koshiro's emotionally evocative musical score raised the standards of what people would later come to expect from video game soundtracks. Now that ActRaiser is available for the Wii's Virtual Console, it's remarkable to see that 16 years of time has hardly dulled the game's ability to delight the senses and to hold a player's attention from start to finish.

From the NIV, Genesis 27:40 – "You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." ActRaiser's 13 platforming stages let you live by the sword, bringing not peace, but destruction to the forces of The Evil One (and saving you from growing restless with its six genre-shifting town simulation levels). You'll never feel like there's too much action or too much sim – the unique category clash of side-scrolling and simulation keeps things fresh for hours, giving you a break from each style of design by bouncing back into the other. ActRaiser's an innovative and intriguing blend, and it's definitely worth a look.

From the NIV, Genesis 27:40 – "You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." ActRaiser's 13 platforming stages let you live by the sword, bringing not peace, but destruction to the forces of The Evil One. And saving you from growing restless, the six genre-shifting town simulation levels. You'll never feel like there's too much action, or too much sim – the unique category clash of side-scrolling and simulation keeps things fresh for hours, giving you a break from each style of design by bouncing back into the other. ActRaiser's an innovative and intriguing blend, and it's definitely worth a download.

For those with the willpower needed to penetrate the fog of weird that surrounds the game, it soon reveals itself as a surprisingly compelling and one that rewards your perseverance with a commendably complex story that also acts as an allegorical meditation on the nature of faith in a secular world. Oh yeah.

ActRaiser was eye candy when it first came out and that may have blinded me to its failings to some degree. While I remember not thinking it was a game with a lot of replay value when I first played it, I still thought it was a really good title; but now, I can't say that. It's adequate and doesn't really do anything wrong, but I find it hard to recommend as anything more than a curiosity -- a mesh of different genres that could have been so much more.